800 Campers Escape California RV Park Wildfire

A man identified as “Chief Dan” uses a garden hose to douse some flames near the Silent Valley Club. Photo courtesy of the Silent Valley Club’s Facebook page.

About 800 people evacuated the Silent Valley Club, a private RV resort near Banning n Southern California, after a wildfire broke out and raged out of control on Wednesday (Aug. 7).

The Silver Fire broke out in the inland mountains of Southern California and expanded exponentially, burning homes, forcing the evacuation of several small mountain communities and leaving three people injured, The Associated Press reported.

About 1,500 people had evacuated as the wildfire of more than 9 square miles raged out of control in the San Jacinto Mountains, said Lucas Spelman, spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Three were injured, including two firefighters taken to hospitals by ambulance and a burned civilian who was airlifted out, state fire officials said. They would give no further details on the injuries.